A new business in Southport is tapping into the micro-brewery trend with backing from Merseyside Special Investment Fund (MSIF)

Brewhooha Project, trading as Tap and Bottle, is a beer bar and bottle shop opened by Julian Burgess, a self-confessed beer geek and specialist beer enthusiast.

The business launched last August and sells a range of beers including bottled and cask ales from national and international micro-breweries. Customers can drink on-site in the Tap and Bottle bar or buy bottles to take away.

MSIF has provided a £20,000 loan and Mr Burgess said: “In recent years there has been an upsurge in the numbers of small scale/artisan micro-breweries and there are around 1,200 in the UK.

“However it can be quite difficult for them to sell their products in pubs owned by the larger breweries and I saw a gap in the market for an outlet to serve craft beers in a smaller, more intimate venue.

“Tap and Bottle has already built up a regular customer-base. We get lots of groups who come here to drink something a bit more unusual, different than you might get on your average night out at the pub.

“I am now looking to develop the business further by improving the upstairs and outside areas. We also want to offer beer tastings and meet the brewer events and are also going to start serving food. I am developing the website so that customers can order online.”

He added: “The funding from MSIF has been crucial to my business as I was really struggling to raise finance elsewhere.”

MSIF chief operating officer Lisa Greenhalgh said: “Julian thoroughly researched his market before coming to us with his business plan and we could see that this was a viable business with plenty of growth opportunities in the future.

“As a Southport resident myself, I know that Tap and Bottle has already developed a large following and the bar is always busy.

“New and original businesses like this should be supported as they are vital to economic growth.”

The company currently employs four staff and is on target to reach a turnover of £200,000 this year.

MSIF created an investment package using money from the Start Up Loans Programme and Regional Growth Fund resources.